Improvement in hames for harness



NU. 9,697. Patented Oct. 10,1871.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. DRURY, OF OSCEOLA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO ISAAC M. SPENCER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAMES FOR HARNESS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,697, dated October 10, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. DRURY, of Osceola, in the county ot' Stark and in the State of Illinois, have invented a Spring-Haine t'or Horses, &'c. 5 and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this speciiication, in which like letters of reference refer to like parts, and in which- Figure l represents a rear elevation of the haines, Fig. 2, a side elevation.

rIhis invention consists in constructing ordinary high or low-topped hames for horses, &c., with a long spring on the side next to the collar, extending from the lower part of each haine to thev top, and operated by a screw to cause the springs to conform to the collar and the neck ot the animal; also in constructing the upper part of high-topped haines with a notched plate or rack, hinged to the outer side or edge of each hame, and fastened with an eye, staple, and thong of leather, for the adjustment of the square iron loops or rings ofthe llame-strap in said notches at convenient heights.

A A represent the haines, made of wood, and bound with iron, B B, long springs, formed by sawing a portion of the inner side of the hame from the top of the same down as far as the draftrings 7c k, as shown in the drawing; but can be also constructed by attaching, instead of said long springs B VI3, a strip of iron, extending over the same space. At the top of the llame a slot is cut in the spring to admit of slight play on the neck of a bolt or screw, b, which contines this end of the spring between the iron binding and the hame. The spring is bowed or sprung by means of the screw g, or an equivalent, having' its head on the outside edge ot' the hame, and pressing against the plate h on the inside of the spring. C C are notched plates or racks hinged to a staple, c, held by the bolts or screws b b, before mentioned. Each plate opens outward from the haine, and each has several notches on the inner edge, next to the iron binding of the haine. Ihe notches slant upward at an acute angle, and are to receive the ring t' ot' the hamestrap. One end ot' the plate C is fastened or hinged by means of an eye on the staple a, and is secured at its other end by means ot' an eye fitting over another staple, d., set in the hame, and secured by a thong or tongue of leather or by similar devices. The dotted lines indicate the plate C when released from the staple d.

The operation of this haine is as follows: To accommodate these haines to the collar and animals neck the screw I) is loosened slightly; then the screw g is adjusted by turning or screwing it toward the spring B, springing the latter inward as far as necessary; then the upper screws b b are tightened, as they were merely loosened in order to allow the ends ofthe springs to move during the operation described.

The hinged racks C (l need little explanation, as it is evident that they confer considerable adaptability to a deep or to a small neck by the adjustment of the rings of the llame-strap to a higher or to a lower notch in said racks or plates. In place of the eye and staple fastening e d, the racks may be made to close and be retained by a snap or spring.

What I claim as my invention is- 'Ihe springs B B, formed by separating a strip from each llame on the inner edge, or by inserting an equivalent metal spring, operated by a screw, g, or equivalent, the upper end of each spring being slotted, and respectively secured by bolts or pins to the haines, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing springhame I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day WM. L. Moss, Jr. (4.6) 

